Hi all,
The 2022 Aerotow and Electric Glider events have been added to our website events page. We are currently checking how to get involved with the BMFA Centenary ‘World Record Flying’ event on May 15th.
I have also taken the opportunity to update the website banner to use the one from our last newsletter and and made a few changes to the Home Page and pictures. Hopefully this year there will be many more opportunities to capture some great shots of our growing fleet.
Robert
Its time for a 2022 facelift (Our webpage before I get a stream of personal comments). If anyone would like their pride and joy shown on our home page, Just email a photo or two.
Robert
Joe sent me some photos of his winter build projects. Blerijoe has flown and Joe says it flies on rails. Doodeljoe is about 3 weeks away from its maiden. They are looking good Joe.
I have tried to use as many photos sent in by members as possible but with just 12 months there was a limit to how many could be included. The calendar is A4 in size and one page per month. The file is a PDF and is approximately just over 6MB. Go to the website home page to download a copy. If you have any problems, let me know
Just to make members aware that the BMFA Site Permit for Little Haldon has been loaded on the Club Documents page. The permit specifies a maximum height of operations at 1500 Ft agl and a Maximum Take Off Mass of 25Kg.
For your convenience click on this link to view: BMFA Site Permit
Our home page has a link added to the BMFA statement and call for action webpage
A brief notice (from Cliff’s YouTube campaign video) has been added to our Home page to help maximise awareness of this critical issue that could, if unchecked, impact eventually the whole of the UK.
The car park opened at 09:30 with a few spots of rain and the horizon around the moors looked a little threatening. However the forecast proved pretty accurate and the conditions quickly improved and the initial westerly drifted N.Westerly allowing the long North South strip to be used for take off and landing. Martin briefed pilots before flying began to ensure we all knew the safety protocol that has become so important lately. First flights circa 11:00 discovered some thermal activity and Chris got a pleasing 18 mins with his 1/3 scale Pilatus from working some lift after calling landing!
Around 20 people turned up, mostly pilots with electric or aerotow models and great fun and banter was had. Martin Tonkins was (at first) our sole tug pilot with his very powerful electric Wot 4 and worked hard dragging 2 x 1/3 scale models and an assortment of 1/4 scale models up to great heights. Felix Marten had kindly sorted out a NOTAM for the day allowing us to 1500ft. Martin was unfortunately limited to his battery life and around 2pm aerotowing ceased. I say ceased, but in fact we were all treated to a new pairing, David Ramsden and his OD Old Phoney towing Tim Naylor’s 3lb Spirit. Despite the long grass and fairly rough surface the Old Phoney pulled the Spirit up in a steady and safe way to a fair height before successful release on several flights…great entertainment and I imagine David will be looking for more customers with lightweight gliders and a release for further towing experiences.
Landing of the day has to go to John Hacker for the perfect approach and incredibly smooth scale landing in front of the assembled and spellbound with his ancient K8, the round of applause was well deserved! We won’t talk about some of the day’s other landings.
Eventually the scene was gradually vacated circa 3pm, with batteries and lift fading after a late lunch, short lived but good quality!
On a final note I will be asking for firm bookings for the Club Xmas Lunch shortly, it may sound early but the Dainton will require a deposit next month. For new members, traditionally the club holds a Xmas lunch at the Dainton Golf Club in December for members and spouses etc, unfortunately after many years Covid scuppered 2020 but we hope this year will be as normal as possible.
Regards
John
Check out our Gallery for more photo’s of the event.
Morning everyone, DGD went ahead yesterday in warm sunny conditions but flying was not brilliant. The clear blue sky made seeing models at height difficult, added to that the easterly breeze produced very little lift. Having said that, the small gathering enjoyed plenty of chat and of course the views were stunning. Check out our Gallery
Two potential new members arrived to watch proceedings plus a very nice couple holidaying from the Isle of Man, both fly gliders but preferred slope soaring the island’s hills. I have attached a YouTube link to a recent video of that very couple doing some pretty extreme soaring on the island.
On another tack we will be resuming monthly club meetings at the Kingsteignton Council Hall as before from the first Monday in September, I will give more details nearer the time and of course the then current Covid situation will have to be considered. For any new members, these are generally just informal gatherings, have a coffee, bring a model and chat etc.
On yet another tack the club is installing a couple of small Beware Model Flying notices at the entrances to the LH strip, this is to satisfy one of the safety requirements of a risk assessment. Hopefully these will not be disturbed in any way.
John
PS: Sorry if your glider flight is not included but my camera had to leave early. Robert
Some of you may be aware the club has applied to BMFA for a ‘Site Permit’. This will be (if granted) to allow us to fly models over 7.5kgs above 400ft, and we think will last the season. There may be a requirement for a NOTAM (notice to airmen) as well but we are not sure yet. However, when we hold our open Glider Days models may turn up that are over the weight limit for above 400ft and of course some of us regularly fly such models.
When filling in the necessary forms for this application we also needed to accompany the info with a list of ‘site rules’ and a risk assessment. As we did not have definitive club rules for LH we had to come up with some. These are now on this website on the Club Documents and Safety & Incidents pages and can also be viewed by clicking on this link. Please have a read.
Hopefully you will agree the rules only reflect what we all practice already so no need to panic. The rules and risk assessment will be reviewed as required.
We may also need to put some form of signage up (with permission) to warn the public of model flying, we envisage these to be permanent low profile and at key entry points.
Although we have always prided ourselves as being an ‘informal club’ with the advent of Article16 and other legalities and restrictions, we now have to demonstrate a degree of responsibility and compliance, so please bear with us on this, the majority is only common sense.
Regards
John